Author George RR Martin has suggested that there may be a surprise in store for fans of his A Song of Ice and Fire series – with not one but two new books possibly being released in 2018. However, he could be including his two-part history of Westeros’ Targaryen kings in that count, as the first part – Fire and Blood – is expected to be released in late 2018 or early 2019.

There hasn’t been a new instalment of the epic saga since 2011 and Winds of Winter, the sixth book in the series, will continue the story from A Dance With Dragons. “I am still working on it, I am still months away (how many? good question), I still have good days and bad days, and that’s all I care to say,” Martin wrote on his blog, Grrm.livejournal.com, adding, “I do think you will have a Westeros book from me in 2018… and who knows, maybe two. A boy can dream…”

Martin has previously dismissed a report that Winds of Winter was finished but was being held back as “false and equally moronic”.

However, the author has already had to tell HBO execs what’s coming up in his books, because the TV show Game of Thrones has already moved beyond the available material. The series will conclude next year with its eighth season, although a series of spin-offs are currently being developed.

• Read all our Game of Thrones reviews